Pneumatic-despatch apparatus.



No. 788,151. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

v 0. F. STODDARD PNEUMATIC DBSPATCH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

@Q- XM PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

C. F. STODDARD. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9,1804.

d 0 ll g X Z 0 O 0 N o d A g o o @G' I I I if 161 24L 4 O \J) I Q a o IO No- 783,151. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

0. F. STODDARD.

PNEUMATIG DESPATGH APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. s, 1904.'

7 8HEETS-8HBET 3.

PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

C. F. STODDARD PNEUMATIC DESPATOH APPARATUS.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 9, 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

G. F. STODDARD. PNEUMATIC DESPATCH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

5 6 XM @MZ PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

G. P. STODDARD. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1904. v

7 sums-$112M e.

M a a PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

No. 783,151. I

unsronman. v PNEUMATIC DESPATGH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9, 1904.

'7 SHEETS-815331 7.

NITED STATES .ratented .Eeloruary 21, 1905.

PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES F. S"ODDA.RD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICANPNEUMATIC SERVICE COMPANY. OF DOVER, DELAWARE,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PNEUMATlC-DESPATCH APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,151, dated.February 21, 1905.

Application filed January 9, 1904. Serial No. 188,377.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. STODDARD, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pneumatic-Despatch Apparatus, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to pneumatic-despatch apparatus,and especially tosending-terminals; and it consists of a cylinder open on one side andwhich contains a revolving drum chambered on opposite sides to receivethe carriers. This drum on one side comes in line with the opening inthe cylinder and on the opposite side in line with thetransmission-tube, so that when a carrier is put into it from the openside of the cylinder and it revolves so that the chamber containing thecarrier is. brought opposite the transmission-tube the current of airflowing through the transmission tube forces the carrier out of thechamber into the transmission-tube. The cylinder is provided with atable secured to it in such a Way as to allow the carrier to roll intothe revolving drum. This table is provided with a trip mechanism, sothat when a carrier passes into the machine the operating mechanism isset in motion to move the revolving drum, so that the carrier is broughtin line with the transmission-tube and discharges into thetransmission-tube. The revolving drum is secured to a shaft which passesinto a semicircular cylinder at one end and to which is secured a pistonwhich revolves in this semicircular cylinder. In the transmission tube,which is outside the sending-terminal, is placed mechanism consisting ofa number of swinging vanes which operate a small valve controlling thelock on the operating mechanism of the main valve for the purpose ofkeeping the machine from operating while a carrier is in the chamber ofthe revolving drum, which is in line with the transmission-tube. As thecarrier passes in front of this locking mechanlsm 1n the aforesaid tubeand which is normally balanced by a pipe connected with the aforesaidtube still farther away from the sending terminal the pressure back ofit. which is greater than that in front, unbalances the swinging vanesand operates an auxiliary valve, which in turn unlocks the machine, sothat it may operate to despatch another carrier. In order that the fullpressure of the transmission-tube shall not be thrown upon the carrierwhen it comes into line with the transmission-tube, I have provided abypass around the sending-terminal which takes most of the pressure ofl'of the carrier when it is brought into line with the transmissiontube,which does not allow the carrier to in any way stop the flow of air asit is coming into line with the transmission-tube.

The object of my invention is to produce a sending terminal forpneumatic despatchtube systems which is effective in operation andsimple in construction.

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described,and particularly pointed out in the claims. r

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodyingmy invention, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively side and rear elevationsof the machine, showing the general arrangement of the parts. Fig. 3 isa plan view. Fig. 4: is a section on the line X X, Fig. 1, through themain portion of the machine, showing the revolving drum and trip-linger.Fig. 5 is a section through the operating-cylinder of the machine toshow the piston-controlling valve. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of thetrip mechanism and the safety-lock. Fig. 7 is a section through theoperating-cylinder of the machine and piston with the parts in theopposite position to that shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a similar view, tothat shown in Fig. 4: with parts reversed. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detailview, partly in section, of the piston-controlling valve with the valvein the same position as shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a similar view toFig. 6 with certain parts in reversed position. Fig.11 is across-sectional view on the line X X, Fig. 2, omitting certhroughout theseveral views.

The carrier is laid or: the inclined table 6 (shown best in Fig. 4c) androlls down into the chamber (4 of the revolving drum (6 passing over thefinger 72 and in doing so presses the finger 6 down. When the carriergets completely into the chamber a, the finger I) returns to theposition shown in Fig. 4. The finger 5? is securely fastened to theshaft 6 at the other end of which is securely fastened thehammer-weight6, Figs. 6 and 10. When the finger is pressed down by the carrier, theshaft 6 is turned and the ham mer-weight Z) is raised away from theshaft If. When the carrier is fully into the chamber (6*, the linger bis returned to its normal position by the weight of the hammer-weight7/. When the hammer-weight b swings back to its normal position, itstrikes the end of the shaft 6", which releases the trip mechanism.thereby operating the main valve of the machine, which moves therevolving drum a into its reverse position, Fig. 8, which brings thechamber a into the position formerly occupied by the chamber a" in Fig.4:, which is directly in line with and in the circuit of thetransmission-tube a, so that the carrier A is carried along with thecurrent of air into the transmission-tube. The chamber a now occupies,Fig. 8, the position formerly occupied by the chamber (0 as shown inFig. 4, and is ready to receive another carrier for transmission. WVhenthehammer-weight Ziin Fig. 6 strikes the rod 5 itmoves the shoulder baway from the latch 5 which swings on the pin 0. This latch is held inposition by the springsc and pins 0 When the shoulder is disengaged fromthelatch Z1, itunlocks the bar (,Z, so that the spring (Z can throw itinto the opposite position, providing the locking-trip c is not engagedwith the pin cl. The spring cl swings at d on the shaft Z) and is putunder tension by the tappet cl, the point e pressing against the spring(2 when the revolving drum is in position, Fig. 4, and the point apressing against the opposite side of the spring (Z controlling thetension in the opposite direction when the revolving drum is in thereverse position, Fig. 8. .VVhen the 'bar cl is thrown into its oppositeposition,

ton a is moved to its reverse position (shown in Fig. 7) and moves therevolving drum 0 from the position shown in Fig. 4: to that shown inFig. 8. During the movement of the piston a the air ahead of it escapesthrough the port 9" to the exhaust-port 9. As the carrier passes throughthe transmission-tube a, Fig. 6, it operates the lockingdevice whichdisengages the pin (Z from the latch 0 so that the machine may operateto despatch the next carrier. The vanes ff are normally balanced, theinside being connected with the transmission-tube a by the port a andthe outside by the pipe f", which enters the transmission-tube a at thepoint 0 some distance away from the sending-terminahas before explained.The carrier after leaving the transmitting-terminal is for a very shortspace of time between the port a and the point e in thetransmission-tube a. While the carrier is between these two points thepressure, which is greater back of the carrier than in .front of it, isalso greater inside the vanes f f than outside. On account of thisgreater pressure on the inside the vanes ff are forced apart against thesides of the vane-case 9. Outside the vane-case and to the spindle uponwhich the vane f is secured is rigidly connected the lever f so thatwhen the vanes are forced apart said lever f moves the piston f", whichis attached to the rod against the spring f into its opposite position,thereby allowing the pressure from the transmission-tube a to flowthrough the pipe f into the pipe 6 into the cylinder (Z thereby forcingthe piston d' against the spring cl into its opposite position, which isshown in Fig. 10. The pin (Z is rigidly connected to the piston d, sothat when said piston moves to its opposite position the pin releasesthe latch 0*, unlocking the machine, so that it is ready for anotheroperation. As the carrier passes the point a in the transmission-tubethe pressure on each side of the vanes ff is equalized and said vanesdrop back into their normal positions, Fig. 10, and the springf forcesthe piston f into its normal position, Fig. 10, which connects the pipe0 with the atmosphere through the exhaust f, thereby allowing thepressure on the front side of the piston d to escape. When the piston dis forced into the position shown in Fig. 10 by the pressure from thepipe f which flows through the pipe 0 when the vanes are forced apart,the

parts of the locking mechanism after a car rier has left thesending-terminal and passed the point e in the transmission-tube.

When

the next carrier rolls into the revolving drum a, it trips the latch I),Fig. 10, and the spring d throws the arm to the extreme opposite end ofits motion, which is somewhat farther than shown in Fig. 6, so that thelatches c and b may pass the pin (Z and the shoulder 6 allowing said pin(Z and shoulder 7) to drop in back of them. TVhen the shaft 7) movesfrom the position shown in Fig. 10 to that shown in Fig. 6, the tensionof the spring d is reversed, and this forces the latches c and againstthe pin (Z and the shoulder 5 as shown in Fig. 6.

The movements of the drum at bring the chambers a" alternately intoalinement with the main tube (1/, and the pressure behind the carriersdrives them over the grated T a into the transmission tube a. Thecarrier passes from the finger 5 into the chamber a, Fig. 8, and thesame operation takes place as before described that is, briefly, the bar(Z' is released from the position shown in Fig. 10 and under the tensionof the spring 6 moves to the position shown in Fig. 6. This operationmoves the piston-rod @downwardly, thereby moving the valve E, with itspistons E E, from the position'shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 5,so that the air-pressure entering through the port g to the valve Epasses down the port into the cylinder (t and moves the piston to fromthe position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 5. This operationbrings the chamber a, with its carrier, from the position shown in Fig.8 to that shown in Fig. 4. During this movement of the piston a the airahead of it escapes through the port g and out through the escape-portTo the air-supply port there is connected the air-supply pipe g providedwith a suitable controlling-valve The exhaust to the ports r g passesout through the port Gr, Fig. 9, to which is connected a suitableexhaust Gr, provided with a suitable controlling-valve G2.

I do not limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown, as thesame may be varied without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having thus described the natureof my invention and set forth aconstruction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a pneumaticdespatch apparatus, a main transmission-tube, a senderfor the carriers consisting of two chambers, a source of compressed air,mechanism operated by compressed air from said source for moving one ofsaid chambers into alinement with the transmission-tube for transmittinga carrier,a valve controlling the supply of compressed air for operatingsaid mechanism, and mechanism operated by the carrier entering saidsender for controlling said valve.

2. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a

main transmission-tube, a sender for the carriers consisting of twochambers, a source of I compressed air, mechanism eperated by compressedair from said source for moving one of said chambers into alinement withthe trans mission-tube for transmitting a carrier,a valve controllingthe supply of compressed air for operating said mechanism, and yieldingmechanism operated by the carrier entering said sender for controllingsaid valve.

3. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a main transmission-tube, a senderforthe carriers consisting of two chambers, a source of compressed air,a cylinder, a piston located in said cylinder and operated by compressedair from said source for moving one of said chambers into alinement withthe transmission-tube for transmitting a carrier, a valve controllingthe flow of compressed air to the cylinder for operating said valve inopposite directions, mechanism for shifting said valve to direct thecompressed air to one side or the other of the piston, and mechanismoperated by the carrier entering the sender for controlling said valve.

4. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a

main transmission-tube, a sender for the carriers consisting of twochambers, a source of compressed air, a cylinder, a piston located insaid cylinder and operated by compressed air from said source for movingone of said chambers into alinement with the transmission-tube fortransmitting a carrier, a valve controlling the flow of compressed airto the cylinder for operating said valve in opposite directions,mechanism for shifting said valve to direct the compressed air to oneside or the other of the piston, and yielding mechanism operated by thecarrier entering the sender forcontrolling said valve.

5. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a main transmission-tube, a senderfor the carriers consisting of receiving chambers, a source ofcompressed air, mechanism operated by compressed air from said sourcefor moving one of said receiving-chambers into alinement with thetransmission-tube for transmitting a carrier, a valve for controllingthe supply of compressed air for operating said mechanism, mechanism foroperating said valve and normally locked against movement, and mechanismoperated by the carrier entering the sender for controlling themovements of said valve.

6. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a main transmission-tube, a senderfor the carriers consisting of receivingchambers, a source of compressedair, mechanism operated by compressed air from said source for movingone of said receiving-chambers into alinement with the transmission-tubefor transmitting a carrier, a valve for controlling the supply ofcompressed air for operating said mechanism, mechanism for operatingsaid valve and normally locked against movement, and yielding mechanismoperated by the carrier entering the sender for controlling themovements of said valve.

7. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a

main transmission-tube, a sender for the carriers consisting ofreceivingchambers, a source of compressed air, mechanism operated bycompressed air from said source for moving one of saidreceiving-chambers into alinement with the transmission-tube fortransmitting a carrier, a valve for controlling the supply of compressedair for operating said mechanism, mechanism for operating said valve andnormally locked against movement, and mechanism operated by the carrierentering the sender for operating said locked mechanism and controllingthe movements of said valve.

8. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, a main transmission-tube, a senderfor the carriers consisting of receiving-chambers, a source ofcompressed air, mechanism operated by compressed air from said sourcefor moving one of said receiving-chambers into alinement with thetransmission-tube for transmittinga carrier, a valve for controlling thesupply of compressed air for operating said mechanism, mechanism foroperating said valve and normally locked against movement, and yieldingmechanism operated by the carrier entering the sender for operating saidlocked mechanism and controlling the movements of said valve.

9. In a pneumatic despatch apparatus, a main transmission-tube, a senderfor the carriers consisting of receiving chambers, a source ofcompressed air, mechanism operated by compressed air from said sourcefor moving one of said receiving-chambers into alinement With thetransmission-tube for transmitting a carrier, a valve for controllingthe supply of compressed air for operating said mechanism,

source of compressed air, mechanism operated by compressed air from saidsource for moving one of said receiving-chambers into alinement With thetransmission-tube for transmitting a carrier, a valve for controllingthe supply of compressed air for operating said mechanism, mechanism foroperating said valve and normally locked against movement, yieldingmechanism operated by the carrier entering the sender for operating saidlocked mechanism and controlling the movements of said valve, and asupplemental locking device for said valve-operating mechanism adaptedto be operated by aircompressed ahead of the carrier for moving saidlocking device from engagement with said valve-operating mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses, this 21st day of December, A. D.1903.

CHARLES F. STODDARD. Witnesses:

A. L. MESSER, E. L. HARLOW.

